Following McLaren’s dominant 1-2 finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, team principal Andrea Stella emphasized that he isn’t concerned with maintaining comfort within the team as the competition between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris heats up. Stella noted that both drivers are currently performing at an exceptional level—comparable to former World Champions he has worked with, such as Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso—making the internal rivalry one of the highest standards seen in Formula 1.
In Sunday’s race at Spa, Piastri managed to overtake Norris shortly after the Safety Car restart and held the lead throughout. Norris, who had started from pole, chose to pit for hard tyres while Piastri opted for mediums. Although Norris closed the gap significantly by the end, Piastri’s strategy and pace helped him secure his sixth win of the season and a 16-point lead in the championship standings. Stella attributed this tight battle to the tiny margins that separate the two drivers.
Stella pointed out how the difference in driver performance and race outcome often comes down to minute details and flawless execution. He referenced Silverstone, where a minor sporting infraction cost Piastri the win, and Spa, where the circuit layout made it difficult for Norris to maintain the lead after the restart. These examples, he said, reflect just how fine the line is between winning and losing when two elite drivers are pushing the limits.
He also addressed Norris’ complaints of derating—reduced engine performance—during the race, explaining there was a minor battery issue affecting both cars. Stella clarified that the lead car is typically more vulnerable on restarts, especially at a track like Spa, where maintaining position into Turn 5 is tough. He further noted that Norris independently decided not to double-stack behind Piastri in the pits and chose the harder compound in hopes of gaining an edge later.
Stella concluded by acknowledging the extreme difficulty of driving on the edge in such dynamic race conditions. Both drivers made small errors—lock-ups and moments of oversteer—that had consequences for lap times. However, these minor slip-ups are natural in such an intense competition, and Stella sees the level of performance from both drivers as a huge positive. For McLaren, having two world-class talents fighting for the title is a rare privilege that outweighs the risks of intra-team rivalry.
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